NPP cautions public over false NDC claims against EC

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised serious concerns over the National Democratic Congress’ refusal to submit evidence of alleged irregularities in the 2024 Provisional Voters Register to the Electoral Commission (EC), despite its public claims of widespread discrepancies.

At a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, the General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, said the NDC had not provided any concrete evidence to back its claims. According to the him, this failure undermines the credibility of the NDC’s accusations, and calls into question its true motives.

“It is obvious that we have allowed the NDC to get away with so many lies and deceptions, lies that nearly tarnished our enviable democratic credentials in 2020 and, in some instances, threatened the peace and security of our dear republic. Undoubtedly, recent outbursts by the NDC regarding the provisional voters’ register is just another grand old NDC strategy of lies and deception to court public sympathy and support in an election year,” he stated.

Caution

The NPP General Secretary cautioned the public to be aware of the NDC’s crafted false narrative of an opposition party being cheated by a state-controlled electoral body.

He challenged the NDC to submit not only to the EC, but the media and general public, its so-called evidence of alarming irregularities, discrepancies and manipulation of the provisional register.

“As remarked by the Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe-led Panel on the Biometric Voters Register, which was constituted by the EC in 2015, ‘the veracity of the Register of Voters depends on the honesty of all citizens of Ghana’. At least, for once in our lifetime, the NDC must be honest with Ghanaians,” he said.

He finds it difficult to comprehend the call by the NDC for an independent forensic audit of the provisional register on the basis of alleged errors and discrepancies. He stressed that in addressing a critical matter of this nature, the law and history must always serve as a guide.

Forensic audit

Mr. Frimpong Kodua dismissed the NDC’s demand for an independent forensic audit, describing it as unnecessary and baseless.

According to him, existing electoral laws, specifically the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 91 as amended by C.I. 127, already provide adequate mechanisms for resolving any discrepancies in the provisional register.

Mr. Frimpong Kodua emphasised that C.I. 127 outlines clear procedures to address issues such as omitted names, deceased voters, incorrect name spellings and wrong registration centre codes. It also includes provisions for voter transfers, the special voters list, and objections to unqualified voters.

He argued that the identification of errors does not warrant an independent audit, as the electoral laws already offer solutions.

“C.I. 127 anticipates such errors and makes provisions for remedying them. Therefore, the identification of discrepancies in the provisional register does not call for an independent forensic audit as being demanded by the NDC,” he stated. He called on the NDC to adhere to the established processes for rectifying errors rather than resorting to what he termed as “needless” agitation.

2015 V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe-led Panel

Mr. Frimpong Kodua further referenced a report from the 2015 V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe-led Panel on the Biometric Voters Register, which stated that the Electoral Commission (EC) had the constitutional mandate to address any errors in the voters’ register.

He reminded the public that this position was supported by Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the then-General Secretary of the NDC, who affirmed that existing mechanisms such as the exhibition process could effectively resolve discrepancies in the register.

“In 2015, the NPP and various civil society organizations called for an independent audit of the voters’ register, but based on the panel’s recommendation and Mr. Nketiah’s statements, we accepted that the EC had the mandate to fix errors through the exhibition process. So, what has changed now?” Mr. Kodua questioned.

He also pointed out that former President John Mahama, in 2015, acknowledged the EC’s independence and legal authority to make decisions on the voters’ register. He criticized the NDC for embarking on protests and questioning the EC’s role, arguing that the party’s current position contradicts its earlier stance.

He urged the NDC to submit any evidence of irregularities to the EC, stating that without such documentation, it would be impossible for the Commission to rectify any errors. He further labelled the NDC’s actions as “hypocritical and deceptive,” aimed at causing unrest rather than ensuring a credible electoral process.

He called on political parties and citizens to exercise vigilance during the exhibition of the provisional voters register, as recommended by the 2015 Crabbe-led panel. He expressed confidence in the EC’s ability to deliver a clean and credible register, provided all stakeholders actively participate in the established processes.